In Xi'an on April 25, 2013, a 70-year-old woman and Xi'an RTVU Professor Hou Xinchang shook hands, overcome with emotion. With tears in his eyes, Hou said repeatedly, “It has been thirty years, and I really don’t know how to thank you!” What is the story behind their emotional reunion?More than 30 years ago, Hou Xinchang worked as a teacher in an 8-year rural school in Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. With a strong desire for advancement and knowledge, he enrolled at China Central Radio and Television University (CCRTVU). As it was not long after the end of the Cultural Revolution, the country was in disarray and resources were extremely scarce. One day in June 1981, Hou decided to take the night train to Xi'an to buy RTVU textbooks and materials, and found Xi'an RTVU after several inquiries. Nervous and hesitant, he went to the teaching material office and explained why he was there. The reply was that the ordered quantity of textbooks and materials had already been distributed and there was nothing left. Hou's mind went blank. In such a remote countryside with no tutorial or television, textbooks and tutorial materials were his only hope, now dashed to pieces. What could he do next?
While he was turning reluctantly to leave, a female teacher gave him new hope. She said, “I work in the CCRTVU section of teaching materials and I am in Xi'an on business. I can help you buy textbooks via mail-order when I go back in a few days.” This teacher was Wei Juting, staff member of the CCRTVU section of teaching materials.
Two months later, Hou received the textbooks mailed by Ms. Wei. The envelope was addressed “to a young teacher”. It turned out that Hou had forgotten to leave his name because of carelessness. Neither had he prepaid Ms. Wei for the books. Hou was the only person in his school enrolled in RTVU study, and so he was lucky to get the learning materials. For the next two years, all of his materials were mailed to him by Ms. Wei. In the faraway northwestern countryside, these valuable books later opened doors of opportunity for Hou. Ms. Wei's good deeds also moved many teachers in the school.
Later, Hou moved to several places before finally coming to work at Xi'an RTVU. When articles were solicited in 2009 for the 30th anniversary of CCRTVU, Hou put this personal story in writing. Ms. Wei was delighted when she read his article.
In April 2013, Ms. Wei came to visit her relatives in Xi'an and got in touch with Mr. Hou. It had been thirty years since they last met. Hou said with deep emotion, “I will always remember Ms. Wei's help in my life and do my best to serve my students wholeheartedly, which may impact the rest of their lives. The good deeds of ordinary people are the positive energy that moves today’s society. RTVUs need this type of energy and they pass this energy down to others as well.”
Former Staff Member of CCRTVU Section of Teaching Materials Wei Juting (Left) Meets Hou Xinchang (Right) After 30 Years
Wei Juting (Right) Enjoys a Cordial Talk with Hou Xinchang (Left) 30 Years Later
Learning Materials Mailed by Ms. Wei 30 Years Ago
By Yao Hui from Xi’an RTVU